Staff Reports
A scene resembling something out of a government-funded drama unfolded recently when the Department of Government Efficiency, referred to as DOGE (not to be confused with the meme cryptocurrency, although one sub-par bureaucrat might wish it were that easy), entered the U.S. Institute of Peace in what can only be described as a “government efficiency crusade meets reality TV” moment. With armed Metropolitan police officers and the freshly-minted president of USIP, Kenneth Jackson, in tow, DOGE had finally gained access after several failed attempts that had all the finesse one would expect from a government agency that believes red tape is merely streamers for a party.
The backstory on this hassle paints a picture even Hollywood couldn’t dream up. DOGE’s pursuit of entry was prompted by President Donald Trump’s directive to slash through the bureaucracy that clogs up the veins of the federal government. A previous attempt to enter, accompanied by FBI agents—yes, FBI agents, because who doesn’t love a little drama?—was met with resistance, resulting in a thrilling standoff that could have easily inspired a new reality show titled “As The Bureaucracy Turns.”
Despite USIP masquerading as a private entity, it is fundamentally a government creation, funded with taxpayer money and overseen by presidential appointees—who, by the way, are subject to a firing spree, courtesy of President Trump. This caper reached its climactic moment when the previous board president, George Moose, turned into a gatekeeper extraordinaire, denying access to Mr. Jackson. In an unexpected twist, Mr. Moose apparently thought he could outsmart the federal bureaucracy but instead became the poster child for governmental inefficiency.
According to DOGE, the reason for summoning the police was exactly because Moose was playing the role of an obstinate toddler—denying lawful access to the new acting president and even attempting to oust private security when they attempted to de-escalate the situation. The ensuing police intervention could have doubled as an episode of “Cops” if anyone had bothered to film it—police, after all, have a legitimate rep for cleaning up messes involving overreaching bureaucrats.
Police Escort DOGE Staffers to Enter Institute of Peace After Standoff https://t.co/jAiUle7ApT
— Brett Murphy (@brettmurphyx) March 18, 2025
Now, the left is crying “foul” over what they’ve labeled DOGE’s “break-in,” even accusing federal agents of leaning too hard on private organizations. Congressman Don Beyer, representing the left’s camp, has taken it upon himself to conduct “oversight” in this so-called scandal, conveniently ignoring the fact that USIP is effectively a government-funded nonprofit. Some critics even labeled DOGE’s actions illegal, transforming the agency’s essential mission of cutting wasteful spending into an episode of “Law and Order: Government Edition.”
Not all voices, however, fell in line with the chorus against DOGE. A few brave souls pointed out that USIP’s ties to the federal government are so extensive that calling it purely independent is akin to labeling the IRS as just a friendly neighborhood tax collector. Those voices rightly highlighted that USIP operates under federal statutes and is funded primarily by Congress, illuminating the blurred lines between governmental and nonprofit entities that appear to be drawn in erasable marker.
This incident has placed the focus back on DOGE’s overarching mission: to confront government waste head-on, even if that means breaking a few bureaucratic rules along the way. Whether or not one agrees with the methodology, it’s hard to ignore that the bureaucratic battles of today have consequences for future government operations, particularly when one considers the back-and-forth tango between efficiency and red tape. If only every governmental agency were as committed to turning chaos into efficiency as DOGE seems to be.
